‘Three lungs’ hopes it’s third time lucky

NOTHING will dim Ji-Sung Park’s desire to finally enjoy some happiness in the Champions League on Saturday.

Memories of Europe’s premier competition are not good ones for the South Korean, who was told on the morning of the 2008 final against Chelsea that he was being left out of the squad by Alex Ferguson.

A year later, he had forced his way into Ferguson’s side, only to finish with a deep sense of disappointment as United were outplayed to lose 2-0 to Barcelona in Rome.

Now Barcelona await once again and a player nicknamed ‘Three lungs’ is desperate to end his Champions League misery at Wembley.

Although United faced suggestions that Park’s arrival from PSV Eindhoven was merely a marketing exercise, designed to boost shirt sales in Asia, the midfielder has become a key man for Ferguson.

And it would be a major surprise if the South Korean, who dominated the quarter-final second leg against Chelsea with a typically bustling, non-stop performance, was not in Ferguson’s starting line-up ahead of Nani.

For all of the supporting runs and tracking back he has done since his arrival in 2005, he can certainly claim he is due a break in the Champions League.

“Three years ago, it was very disappointing for me. I played in the semi-final and I missed the final, I wasn’t even in the squad. I had to follow that and I had to prove myself and I knew if I wanted to play in a final, then I’d have to improve.

“The manager just told me in the morning, came to me and explained. He said that he felt sorry and I understand. The year after I played and we lost and which is better? 2008 or 2009?

“I couldn’t compare that. Now at the moment I have a chance to maybe play and win the game and that would be perfect for me so I’m looking forward to that. If I play and win it would be the best moment in my career.”

He may appear shy but the 30-year-old is a hugely popular member of the United squad and Rio Ferdinand claims the winger receives more fan mail than any other player.

Park, who has now retired from international football, can not walk the streets at home without being mobbed and expects hundreds of millions of fans in the Far East to watch the game in the middle of the night.

“I get a lot of parcels coming over from South Korea. They send me everything from food, clothes, sweets and they have even sent me money before when the notes changed at home but I don’t like being famous,” he added.

“I have to make people from my country happy and that means I have to win and perform very well and then most Asian people might be watching the game as well. If I play I will be the only Asian player in the Champions League final.”

The frustration of his early miss in Rome two years ago still irritates but he is sure that United can cope with Pep Guardiola’s men this time around.

“In the first 10 minutes we played very well. I had a good chance but (Gerard) Pique stopped that,” Park said. “If that chance had gone in maybe it would have been a different result, but it didn’t and it wasn’t.

Ferguson faces a selection dilemma on a par with his Park decision of three years ago at right-back, where he will have to choose between Irishman John O’Shea and twins Rafael and Fabio, 20.

Rafael has played far more matches for United but Fabio has finished the season strongly and is the favourite to start at Wembley.

Rafael admits the situation is difficult for their parents.

“My parents don’t like it very much because they prefer one of us to play on each side rather than the two of us competing for the same position,” Rafael said.

“I think I’m probably more aggressive than him whereas he’s calmer than me”